WWII courtroom drama includes disturbing archive footage.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
Disturbing and graphic archive footage from concentration camps in World War II. Includes dead bodies being pushed around by a bulldozer. Through testimonies in the court case, there are detailed descriptions of the gas chambers, torture, and murder. Witnesses talk about what everyday life was like during the Nazi regime. The effects of war are also discussed including how people lost their children in battle and bombings.
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A few instances of characters drinking alcohol at a bar. A character encourages another to have a beer and another claims they have had one too many. A character is offered a cigarette.
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Those who commit evil acts will be held to account. There is a collective responsibility to stand up for what's right and not remain silent. Justice is served in the courtroom.
Positive Role Models
some
The film studies how seemingly normal, well-educated people can be capable of such evil. The prosecutors are dignified people who demand justice, holding people to account. The Chief Judge Haywood is principled and commits to the letter of the law, wanting only for justice to prevail. The defendant Dr. Ernst Janning is accused of horrific atrocities. He eventually admits to his crimes and takes some responsibility for what he did and his part in the Holocaust.
Diverse Representations
very little
Although it is about the Holocaust and the crimes committed against humanity, especially against Jewish people, there are few Jewish roles within the film. It is worth noting that in the real-life Nuremberg trials, Jewish survivors did testify in court, but not in this film. The focus instead remains on the Americans and the Germans. Despite the lack of Jewish presence, antisemitism is discussed at length, with the trial making reference to the fact that under Nazi rule, it was illegal to befriend or be in contact with a Jew. The majority of characters that feature are White males. There are a couple of strong roles for women, however, albeit in supporting roles. Director Stanley Kramer was Jewish.
Parents need to know that Judgment at Nuremberg is a powerful courtroom drama based on the 1947 Nuremberg trials, in which senior Nazi officials were tried for their roles in the Holocaust. With an all-star cast, including Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, and Marlene Dietrich, the film looks at how Nazism and antisemitism was allowed to spread and doesn't shy away from some of the horrors that unfolded during World War II. There is disturbing archival footage from the concentration camps, with dead bodies being seen pushed by bulldozers. There are also upsetting accounts from the witness boxes about gas chambers, torture, and murder. Voices from both the prosecution and defense are heard, but it's disappointing that the Jewish perspective is underrepresented—especially considering that, in the real trial the film is based on, Jewish survivors were called to the stand. The movie tries to shine a light on how such atrocities were able to take place, and can be a springboard for important conversations about justice, collective responsibility, and complicity. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
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What's the Story?
JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG is a fictionalized account of the Nuremberg trials, carried out by allied forces, that took place in the wake of the World War II, where former judges of Nazi Germany were tried for their involvement in the Holocaust. Chief Judge Dan Haywood (Spencer Tracy) has traveled to Germany to preside over this monumental case, as he attempts to understand the true depth of complicity, with figures such as Dr. Ernst Janning (Burt Lancaster) hoping for mercy.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say:Not yet rated
Kids say:Not yet rated
This fictionalized account of the Nuremberg trials in 1947 delves into the horrors of WWII and the Holocaust, asking some tough questions along the way. Directed by Stanley Kramer, Judgment at Nuremberg doesn't merely focus on the individual perpetrators or victims of these atrocities. Instead, it examines how the evils of the Nazi regime spread across Europe and explores the concepts of collective responsibility. The film seeks to understand how so many became entangled in such hateful and violent ideology. How much did people actually know? What could they have done to stop it? Bringing these complexities to life is an A-list cast, with Tracy, Lancaster, and Marlene Dietrich all delivering strong performances. As a courtroom drama, the film also offers memorable cameos from Montgomery Clift and Judy Garland, who shine in the witness box. Kramer ensures that the viewer is not given an easy ride—and nor should they be—and despite its three-hour runtime, the film remains compelling throughout.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the notion of accountability and of responsibility as explored in Judgment at Nuremberg. Were you shocked at how complicit seemingly "normal" people were in the atrocities that took place? Why do you think such evil acts were allowed to happen?
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By Stefan Pape
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